Although the film is only the debut work directed by Susannah Grant (Susannah Grant), and although you will feel such a strange name, Grant has long been well-known in the screenwriting world: she was once famous for " Erin Brockovich " (Erin Brockovich) starring Julia Roberts. Brockovich) and won the Oscar nomination for best original screenplay. Choosing such a film as her debut debut on the big screen depends on Susanna Grant’s commitment to using comedy elements to interpret the true meaning of life, just like the other two scripts she wrote-" 28 Days " (28 Days) And "In Her Shoes" (In Her Shoes): "The tone of the story of "Catch and Release" is different, because it can neither be classified in a pure drama, nor is it a single comedy, but For me, what this story can reflect is what life is like. You should know the old proverb like me: tragedy plus time equals comedy." Jennifer Garner also agrees with Grant’s point of view: “You have to face life with a sincere attitude, because life is like this. It cannot be covered by a single word. Any kind of film tells a story but not All of life. And all we have to do is to completely compress life into a film."
It can be said that the whole story began with some simple thoughts in Susanna Grant’s mind: "The worst thing you have experienced in your life is likely to become the straw that saves your life, and even makes you more aware of the existence of life. Importance.” At the same time, Grant’s friend Jack also provided her with a story material: “I went to a friend’s funeral and found that the wife of this deceased friend was comforted by her husband’s former friend. Show off a gratified smile. it makes me feel very warm.” Combining the material into his own ideas, Grant created this story with Gray Wheeler as the protagonist: This poor woman who suddenly lost her fiancé found out about Grandi The secrets that have been concealed all the time, everything that happened one after another made Gray start resenting life-of course, every comedy should have a happy ending.
As Jennifer Garner described: "The relationship between the characters in the film was developed after Grandi died. They responded to this change in life with a comedic attitude. No one accepts this change voluntarily. Yes, they kept struggling, dancing their hands and feet and even screaming in surprise, but slowly, everyone found another meaning of life in'change'."
Although she has never directed a movie, Susanna Grant knows the behind-the-scenes work of this kind of film industry very well. After writing screenwriters for many very successful works, it is time to make a film of her own: " To be honest, when I wrote this story, I didn’t think about being a director by myself. But when the film was finished, I felt very satisfied and realized that if this film were not for me to be the director, I might end up Will deviate from my original intention of writing the story."
For a screenwriter, an original script is much more valuable than an adapted script. The screenwriter can write the script as you want, and write all the questions and ideas you care about. However, the same story is in the hands of directors of different styles, and the form of expression is not the same, and the elements that the screenwriter initially considered important may be completely eliminated. So when the producer Jenno Topping saw Susanna Grant’s script, he immediately called her and asked her: Why don’t you come to be the director yourself?
Susanna Grant and Gianno Toppin are partners in work, but close friends in private: "Our husbands know each other and our children often play together. Of course, the same job means we spend more I’m tired of time together. It’s my luck to find Toppin as the producer of a film, because she can always be the most powerful supporter behind a film. Everything she did to me, I guess I only I can understand 30%. As for the others, she secretly solved them for me before they became problems."
The well-known screenwriter and director Kevin Smith (Kevin Smith), who participated in the film , also gave a high evaluation of Susanna Grant’s grasp of the story and the role: "I have always been able to write a screenwriter by myself. The director’s filmmakers have high respect, because they can start from the story itself instead of thinking too much about the commercial elements. If the film you direct is not the screenwriter you do, then you should let the screenwriter follow, because he can Tell you what you really think about a particular scene, and what kind of mood he had when writing this story. This will also help the actor to better understand the character."
